Stair climbing chair



Dec. 28, 1965 R. C. GRIER, JR

STAIR CLIMBING CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 9, 1963 INVENTOR.

Robert C. Grier Jr.

ATTORNEY Dec. 28, 1965 R. c. GRIER, JR

STAIR CLIMBING CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 9, 1963 INVENTOR. rf C GRIER Jr ATTORNEY 7'A. Robe United States Patent 3,226,128 STAIR CLIMBING CHAIR Robert C. Grier, In, 303 W. Prentiss Ave., Greenville, S.C. Filed Sept. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 307,430 3 Claims. (Cl. 280-52) This invention relates to wheel chairs or rolling chairs adapted to ascend or descend a stairway.

Many attempts have been heretofore made to construct a chair for conveniently ascending and descending stairs under the control of the occupant of the chair without removing himself from the chair. Evidently, these attempts have involved the use of motorized means for causing the chair to ascend and descend the stairway. Such equipment has proved expensive and impractical.

Accordingly, it is an important object of this invention to provide a wheel chair capable of ascending and descending ordinary stairways without the use of special equipment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wheel chair controllable by the occupant of the chair for ascending and descending a stairway, thus providing independence and challenge for the occupant of the chair.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features thereof.

The invent-ion will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, with parts omitted for clarity of illustration, illustrating a wheel chair constructed in accordance with the present invention,

FIGURE 1a is an enlarged perspective view, with parts omitted, illustrating the wheel assemblies of FIG- URE 1,

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view, with parts omitted for clarity of illustration, looking at the front left-hand side of the wheel chair illustrated in FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the skids of the wheel chair illustrated in FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged side elevation illustrating the means for manipulating the skids,

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged side elevation, with parts broken away, illustrating the means for moving the seat portion of the chair illustrated in FIGURE 1 rearwardly to lower the center of gravity of the chair,

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged perspective view, with parts broken away, illustrating the hub area of the wheel chair illustrated in FIGURE 1 taken on the line 6-6 in FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 7 is a transverse sectional elevation illustrating the gripping means illustrated in FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 7a is a modified version of the gripping means illustrated in FIGURE 7,

FIGURE 8 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 88 in FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged elevation illustrating the wheel releasing means of the chair shown in FIGURE 1 taken on the line 9-9 in FIGURE 8,

FIGURE 10 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 1010 in FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 11a is a schematic diagram illustrating the positioning of the parts of the wheel chair preparatory to ascending a flight of stairs,

FIGURE 11b is a schematic illustration showing the chair beginning its ascent,

FIGURE 110 is a schematic illustration showing the chair during the progress of ascending the stairway, and

e CC

FIGURE 11d is a schematic illustration showing the chair in position immediately after reaching the top of the stairway.

The drawings illustrate a wheel chair having a frame and seat supported by a pair of spaced wheel assemblies with hubs carried by stub shafts. Each of the wheels includes an inner traction wheel and an outer hand wheel adapted to be pushed by the occupant of the chair. The improvement contemplates means for ascending and descending a stairway. A pair of spaced retractable slides A are positioned forwardly of said frame so as to be adjustable to the angle of the stairway to be ascended or descended. A pair of spaced retractable slides B are positioned rearwardly of said frame and are adjustable to the angle of the stairway to be ascended or descended. The means C shift the seat to the rear of the frame to lower the center of gravity of the chair. Spaced gripping means D are carried by the wheels for pulling the chair rearwardly when the rear of the chair faces the stairway for ascending the stairway. As explained below, the gripping means D also controls the descent of the chair. The gripping means include means engaging the stairway successively operated responsive to the gripping means to raise the chair. Detent means E limit retrogressive movement of the gripping means which would permit the chair to slide down the stairway when the gripping means are released prior to engaging the next gripping means. Detent means F limit retrogressive movement of the gripping means when descending the stairway to predetermined increments of movement. Yielding means G are carried by the means engaging the steps permitting the means engaging the stairway to gradually collapse and thus descend the stairway.

FIGURE 11a illustrates the positioning of the parts during normal operation of the chair on a flat surface and preparatory to climbing a stairway. The stairway is approached with the rear of the chair facing the stairway. FIGURE llb illustrates the positioning of the slides B and the gripping means D during the first step in climbing the stairway. It will be noted that the seat is in rear position to lower the center of gravity of the chair. FIGURE 11c illustrates the positioning of both slides and the gripping means when the chair is fully on the stairway. FIGURE 11d illustrates the positioning of the slides when the top of the stairway is attained. The slide B is again in horizontal position. The sequence of descending the stairway is indicated by reversing the order of the above illustrations.

The wheel chair has a frame 10 (FIGURE 1) for supporting the various elements described above. The frame 10 includes a pair of spaced substantially horizontal portions 10a, each having a depending forward portion 10b, and a rear depending portion 100. A footrest portion 11 is carried integrally with the forward depending frame members 10b. Front caster wheels 12 are also supported by the frame members 10b. A seat portion 13 is carried by the frame members 10 and generally includes a pair of spaced arm rest portions 13a, a seat bottom 13b, and a back portion 130. The back portion carries handle grips 14, used in pushing the chair. In the particular chair illustrated, the foot portion 11 terminates in footrests 11b and is spanned by a canvas portion 11a. The seat bottom 13b and seat back 13c are also constructed of canvas to permit the operation of mechanism (not shown) for collapsing the chair transversely so that the arms 13a are compressed closely adjacent each other. The footrest portions 11b may be turned upwardly out of the way when the chair is collapsed. The chair may be collapsed simply by lifting the seat belt 13d.

The frame 10 and the seat 13 are supported by a pair of spaced wheel assemblies 15 which are carried by stub shafts illustrated at 16 carried by the depending rear frame members illustrated at c. It will be noted that the wheel assemblies include an inner traction wheel a, and an outer hand wheel 15b, all of which are mounted on hubs illustrated at 17 carried by the stub shafts 16. The usual brake is indicated at 150. The wheels are provided with the usual spokes 17a. The hubs are pivotally retained upon the stub shafts 16 by self locking nuts 17b carried on threaded portions 16a of the stub shafts.

The retractable slides A each include an elongated skilike member 18 pivotally carried as at 19 by a rod 20. The rod 20 is adjustably carried within an elongated housing 21 pivotally mounted as at 22 upon the stub shafts 16. The slide 18 may be adjusted in length by moving the extension 18a carrying teeth 18b with respect to the pawl member 18c which is pivoted at 18d and spring loaded at 186. Vertical adjustment of the slides 18 is made through the rod 20 which is pivotally carried at 23 by the housing 21. A plunger 21a is normally urged into one of a series of holes 20a by the spring 21b fixing the rod 20 against rotation and permitting such vertical adjustment by proper selection of holes 20a. The rod 24 is slidably mounted within a housing 24a carried by a bracket 25 so that the rod 24, having a handle 2411-, may be moved vertically so that its teeth 24c may be engaged in proper position by the spring biased member 24d.

The slides B mounted upon the rear of the frame 10 are operated by similar parts to the slides A, and are assigned corresponding reference characters in the drawings.

The means C shifting the seat 13 to the rear includes a sleeve 26 carried by the horizontal frame members 10a upon which the arm portions 13a are fixedly carried. A locking plunger 27 (FIGURE 5) is carried by the arm portion 13a and is adapted to extend into either of a pair of spaced apertures 28 carried within the horizontal frame portion 10a for maintaining the seat in front or rear position. The locking plunger 27 is pivoted as at 27a and spring biased at 27b. It will be noted that by pushing the seat portion 13 rearwardly to engage the rear aperture 28, that the center of gravity is lowered when ascending or descending a stairway.

A plurality of spaced gripping means D are carried between the traction wheel 15a and the hand wheel 15b, and are pivotally mounted upon the hub 17 upon pins 29 carried by the brackets 30 (FIGURES 1 and 6). The gripping means generally includes a rod 31 which carries a grip, illustrated in FIGURE 1, in the form of a ball 32 constructed of rubber and the like. A modified form of the grip is shown in FIGURE 7a, illustrated at D, in the form of an elongated member having a plurality of spaced finger grip portions 33 carried by the shaft 31'. The means D also serves as the means for engaging the steps successively to raise the chair.

Detent means E for limiting retrogressive movement of the gripping means when ascending a stairway includes the spring biased locking plunger 34 (FIGURE 10). The plunger 34 is adapted to slide past an inclined surface 35 in a disc shaped member 36 fixedly carried by the hub 17 when ascending the stairway. A wall 37 opposite the inclined wall 35 engages the spring biased plunger 34 which is pressed into the aperture defined thereby by the spring 34a to prevent retrogressive movement of the wheels. The locking plunger may be manually deactivated when descending a stairway by depressing the spring 34a and engaging the locking pin 3412 (FIGURE 6) within the annular groove 34c. It will be observed that the pin 34 is carried within the housing 38 carried by outwardly extending stub shafts 16. It will be noted that the means E includes many relatively closely spaced openings defined by the walls 35 and 37 to provide desirable increments of movement. While such openings are illustrated as being formed in a disc 36, suitable means could include such openings in the form of a control ring spaced further outwardly of the hub 17 co-operating with a suitable plunger for greater mechanical advantage.

The detent means F limiting the retrogressive movement of the gripping means when descending a stair includes a spring biased plunger 39 (FIGURES 8 and 9) carried within the housing 38. The plunger 33 is adapted to extend into an aperture 40 in disc 36 having transverse opposed slot portions 40a. One of the slot portions carries a pin 41 for positioning a spring member 42 having a pair of arms 42a and 42b carried by a looped portion 420. The walls of the aperture 40 are parallel to the axis of the plunger, thus when the plunger extends into the aperture 40 the wheels are locked by the lateral force of the wall of aperture 40 being exerted on the plunger 39. The plunger 39 is spring biased inwardly by the coil spring 39a and the plunger may be held in a retracted position by engaging the locking pin 3% within the annular groove 390 when ascending the stairway. When descending a stairway the occupant of the chair exerts a force upon the associated gripping member D to overcome the spring 44. This causes the means F to be released as described below.

It will be observed that the gripping means D are each positioned within a bracket 43 carried by the disc 36. The means D are spring biased as by the tension springs 44 fixed to the handwheel 15. The detent means F may be spaced to provide desired increments of movement, and if desired may be spaced further outwardly of the hub 17 for greater mechanical advantage.

The yielding means G includes the cylinder 45 which forms a part of the gripping means D. A piston 45a is carried by the rod 31, and has a port 45b permitting fluid to flow through the piston 45a. The rod 31 is supported by a head member 450 for axial movement within the cylinder 45. A washer 46 is carried loosely upon a shaft 47 which is threadably positioned as at 47a within the rod 31. The shaft 47 carries an abutment 47b upon which a spring 48 is carried. The spring is so called as to telescope into the bottom portion of the cylinder 45. A locking element 50 which has rod engaging surfaces 50a, is cammed into the proper rod engaging position by the cam member 51 mounted upon the bracket 43.

When descending a stairway a rearward and upward force is exerted first upon the gripping means D by the occupant of the chair causing the plunger 39 to be removed from the aperture 40 since the spring 42 is cammed inwardly by the member 45d carried by the cylinder 45 permitting rotation of disc 36 and thereby lowering of the gripping means. Looking at FIGURE 8, which illusstrates the gripping means D in a vertical position, the rearward force is illustrated as a downward force relative to the bottom of the drawings. The plunger 39 then engages the next successive aperture 40 prior to an upward force being exerted upon the next successive gripping member D. When a ball 32 engages the next successive step of the stairway, the locking member 50 is disengaged by the release of the pressure normally exerted thereon by the cam 51 permitting the yielding means G to gradually collapse. The pressure normally exerted on the locking member 50 by the cam 51 is automatically released by the transverse force applied to ball 32 when striking the step in a clockwise direction (when looking at the chair as illustrated in FIGURE 11a). As illusstrated in FIGURE 7, the upper portion of locking element flops to the right when the ball strikes the step thereby permitting the yielding means G to gradually collapse due to the hydraulic action of the piston 45a. The spring 48 then returns the gripping means D to normal extended gripping position. During use of the chair other than when negotiating a stairway, the gripping means D may be retired by depressing the gripping means D (FIG- URE 1a) and placing the cup 52 over the ball 32 to confine same in retracted position.

In operation, when the occupant of the chair desires to ascend a stairway, the stairway is approached with the rear of the chair facing the stairway. The slides A and B are extended to cover points of at least three steps and the gripping means D are positioned in the position illustrated in FIGURE llb during the first step in climbing the stairway. The seat locking means C is released and the seat is shifted to the rear. The cups 52, which fit over the balls 32 to confine the gripping means D in a retracted position, are swung about handwheel 15 permitting the gripping means D to project out to the extended position, as illustrated in FIGURES 11b and 7. FIGURE 11c illustrates the position of both slides when the chair is fully on the stairway.

The detent means P which limits the forward movement of the gripping means D by means of the spring biased plunger 39 is retracted and locked in the retracted position by locking pin 3912. Thus the detent means, during the ascending stage, permits the disc 36 and wheels to rotate freely.

The detent means E permits the disc 36 and wheels to rotate in a clockwise or rearward direction when looking at the chair as illustrated in FIGURE 11a.

The occupant grips a forward gripping means D and pulls upward. The ball 32 on a horizontal rearward gripping means D engages the first step and lifts the chair. The forwardly extending gripping means D is pulled upwards until the detent E locks the disc 36 in position. The occupant releases the vertical gripping means D and grasps the successive forward gripping means D and pulls it upward. This sequence is continued until the steps are ascendedv It is noted that the gripping means D remains in the extended position during the entire time that the stairway is being ascended. The gripping means D is locked in the extended position at the point of contact of the ball 32 with a step by the locking element 50 due to the transverse force being applied to gripping means D and rod 31 from the side opposite the cam 51. The slides A and B act as guides or skis during the ascending and descending operation, and are always in contact with the chair to keep the chair from tipping over.

When descending a stairway a rearward and upward force is exerted first upon the gripping means D by the occupant of the chair causing the plunger 39 to be removed from the aperture 40 since the spring 42 is cammed inwardly by the member 45d carried by the cylinder 45 permitting rotation of disc 36 and thereby lowering of the gripping means to the next aperture 40. Looking at FIGURE 8, which illustrates the gripping means D in a vertical position, the rearward force is illustrated as a downward force relative to the bottom of the drawings. The plunger 39 then engages the next successive aperture 40 prior to an upward force being exerted upon the next successive gripping member D. When a ball 32 engages the next successive step of the stairway, the locking member 50 is disengaged by the release of the pressure normally exerted thereon by the cam 51 permitting the yielding means G to gradually collapse due to the hydraulic action of the piston. The pressure normally exerted on the locking member 50 by the cam 51 is automatically released by the transverse force applied to ball 32 when striking the step in a clockwise direction. As illustrated in FIGURE 7, the upper portion of locking element flops to the right when the ball strikes the step thereby permitting the yielding means G to gradually collapse. The spring 48 then returns the gripping means D to normal extended gripping position. During use of the chair other than when negotiating a stairway, the gripping means D may be retired by depressing the gripping means D (FIGURE 1a) and placing the cup 52 over the ball 32 to confine same in retracted position.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a wheel chair having a frame and seat supported by a pair of spaced wheel assemblies with hubs carried by shafts, means for ascending and descending a stairway including, support means positioned forwardly of said frame adjustable to the angle of the stairway to be ascended or descended, support means positioned rearwardly of said frame adjustable to the angle of the stairway to be ascended or descended, a plurality of gripping means spaced circumferentially about the hub of said wheel chair and extending radially beyond the wheels of said chair while ascending a stairway, said plurality of gripping means rotating rearwardly responsive to an upward and rearward force being applied successively to forwardly extending gripping means by an occupant of said chair, said rearwardly extending gripping means successively contacting the steps to lift the chair up said steps as the occupant successively pulls upward and rearward on the forwardly extending gripping means, a locking means for limiting forward movement of the gripping means which would permit the chair to slide down the stairway when a gripping means is released prior to engaging the next gripping means, and means limiting forward movement of the gripping means when descending the stairway to predetermined increments of movement.

2. In a wheel chair having a frame and seat supported by a pair of spaced wheel assemblies with hubs carried by stub shafts, each of said wheels including an inner traction wheel and an outer hand wheel adapted to be pushed by the occupant of the chair, means for ascending and descending a stairway including, a pair of spaced retractable slides positioned forwardly of said frame adjustable to the angle of the stairway to be ascended or descended, a pair of spaced retractable slides positioned rearwardly of said frame adjustable to the angle of the stairway to be ascended or descended, means for shifting the seat to the rear of the frame to lower the center of gravity of the chair, a plurality of gripping means spaced circumferentially about the hub of said wheel chair and extending radially beyond the wheels of said chair while ascending a stairway, said plurality of gripping means rotating rearwardly responsive to an upward and rearward force being applied successively to forwardly extending gripping means by an occupant of said chair, said rearwardly extending gripping means successively contacting the steps to lift the chair up said steps as the occupant successively pulls upward and rearward on the forwardly extending gripping means, means for limiting forward movement of the gripping means which would permit the chair to slide down the stairway when a gripping means is released prior to engaging the next gripping means, and means limiting forward movement of the gripping means when descending the stairway to predetermined increments of movement.

3. In a wheel chair having a frame and seat supported by a pair of spaced wheel assemblies with hubs carried by stub shafts, each of said wheels including an inner traction wheel and an outer hand wheel adapted to be pushed by the occupant of the chair, means for ascending and descending a stairway including, a pair of spaced retractable slides positioned forwardly of said frame adjustable to the angle of the stairway to be ascended or descended, a pair of spaced retractable slides positioned rearwardly of said frame adjustable to the angle of the stairway to be ascended or descended, means shifting the seat to the rear of the frame to lower the center of gravity of the chair, a plurality of gripping means spaced circinnferentially about the hub of said wheel chair and extending radially beyond the wheels of said chair while ascending a stairway, said plurality of gripping means rotating rearwardly responsive to an upward and rearward force being applied successively to forwardly extending gripping means by an occupant of said chair, said rearwardly extending gripping means successively contacting the steps to lift the chair up said steps as the 7 8" occupant successively pulls upward and rearward on the References Cited by the Examiner forwardly extending gripping means detent means for UNITED STATES PATENTS limiting forward movement of the gripping means which would permit the chair to slide down a stairway when the 25 041511 4/1950 l 30147 gripping means is released prior to engaging the next 5 3,133,742 5/1964 Rlchlson ct 280-523 gripping means, detent means limiting forward movement 3,142,351 7/ 1964 Green et 11- 1 of the gripping means when descending the stairway to FOREIGN PATENTS predetermined increments of movement, and yielding means carried by the means engaging the steps permitting the means engaging the stairway to gradually collapse and 10 thus descend the stairway.

187,291 6/ 1907 Germany.

LEO FRIAGLIA, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A WHEEL CHAIR HAVING A FRAME AND SEAT SUPPORTED BY A PAIR OF SPACED WHEEL ASSEMBLIES WITH HUBS CARRIED BY SHAFTS, MEANS FOR ASCENDING AND DESCENDING A STAIRWAY INCLUDING, SUPPORT MEANS POSITIONED FORWARDLY OF SAID FRAME ADJUSTABLE TO THE ANGLE OF THE STAIRWAY TO BE ASCENDED OR DESCENDED, SUPPORT MEANS POSITIONED REARWARDLY OF SAID FRAME ADJUSTABLE TO THE ANGLE OF THE STAIRWAY TO BE ASCENDED OR DESCENDED, A PLURALITY OF GRIPPING MEANS SPACED CIRCUMFERENTIALLY ABOUT THE HUB OF SAID WHEEL CHAIR AND EXTENDING RADIALLY BEYOND THE WHEELS OF SAID CHAIR WHILE ASCENDING A STAIRWAY, SAID PLURALITY OF GRIPPING MEANS ROTATING REARWARDLY RESPONSIVE TO AN UPWARD AND REARWARD FORCE BEING APPLIED SUCCESIVELY TO FORWARDLY EXTENDING GRIPPING MEANS BY AN OCCUPANT OF SAID CHAIR, SAID REARWARDLY EXTENDING GRIPPING MEANS SUCCESSIVELY CONTACTING THE STEPS TO LIFT THE CHAIR UP SAID 